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Corn Silage 2019: Two different crops
By Joe Lawrence and Karl Czymmek
This year’s corn silage harvest will present two distinctively different forages, often times on the same farm, sometimes in the same field. On many farms, a portion of the corn silage acres have a reasonable chance to make it to proper corn silage maturity (approximataly 35 percent whole plant dry matter), while another portion of the crop will likely be harvested at an immature stage, where dry down may be induced by a frost. To the extent possible on your farm, it is best to develop two different harvest strategies and management plans to manage the crop in storage and at feed out. While jumping from field to field does create some inefficiency during the harvest season, the value of separating these different quality forages for feeding will far outweigh the slight cost of harvest inefficiencies.
Wet corn silage can be an environmental challenge
By Karl Czymmek, Peter Wright and Joe Lawrence
With the late planting of many corn silage fields, managing fall silage harvest will be especially critical this year. Don’t add to fall challenges by overlooking the potential serious impacts from extra silage leachate that may result from immature crops. A whole plant moisture of less than 70 percent moisture will provide the best opportunity for proper silage making and around 65 percent is considered optimal.
Management Considerations for Immature and Frosted Corn Silage
By Larry Chase
The 2019 growing season in New York has again not been “normal.” Wet conditions delayed planting in many areas of the state. Later in the growing season, some areas were dry. On many farms, there are large differences in corn maturity between fields. There is a possibility that some corn will not reach “normal” maturity when it is harvested. Growing degree days in August and September will be key in determining maturity at harvest. An early frost will further complicate the situation.
Cornell Dairy Executive Program: Join Progressive Dairy Executives from across the US in a unique dairy business leadership and management program
The Cornell Dairy Executive Program (CDEP) is accepting applications for its latest class, to begin in December 2019. CDEP is a professional educational program in leadership and management principles for progressive dairy executives and agriservice personnel.
Timely topics in dairy business management are presented by a team of national experts from within and outside of the field of agriculture in two multi-day sessions. Participants develop 1- and 5-year strategic business plans through a comprehensive self-evaluation of their business, while building a network of dairy executives and business relationships. All sessions are held at The Statler Hotel on the Cornell University campus. A typical day includes presentations, individual study, small group discussions and round-table discussions with faculty.
Detailed information, including an application, can be found online at prodairy.cals.cornell.edu/dairyexec or by contacting Heather Darrow, Conference Coordinator at (607) 255-4478 or hh96@cornell.edu. Class size is limited to 30 participants – register TODAY! Registration deadline is October 15.
Support of developing management personnel skills and experiences through CDEP is provided by: Ag Choice Farm Credit, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Pioneer, Dairy Farmers of America, Farm Credit East, and Zoetis.
All Star Advocates
The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition is proud to present ALL-STAR ADVOCATES, a new and exciting opportunity to enhance your ag-vocacy skills. If you’re a passionate dairy farmer or advocate for the dairy industry in New York State, this program might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Check out this opportunity at the link below and submit your application by September 6 for this travel experience to establish, prepare and develop confident dairy advocates. Please contact Eileen Jensen, NY Animal Agriculture Coalition, for more information at eileen@nyanimalag.org or 315-719-2795.
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